OPM launches effort to recruit, retain women

The Office of Personnel Management isn't pleased with the fact that more women work in the civilian labor force than in the federal government.

OPM's latest effort to change that statistic is a new guide for agency managers called "Women in the Federal Government: A Guide to Recruiting and Retaining." The guide contains human resources management approaches and tools managers can use in designing recruitment and retention strategies and in resolving staffing problems.

"Federal executives and managers have a responsibility to assure their department and agency workplaces reflect the rich diversity of America," the guide says. "The most important single factor in attracting and retaining women is direct, conscientious involvement by managers."

Agencies have various strategies available to recruit women for government jobs, the guide says. For example, they have the authority to make a lump-sum payment of up to 25 percent of basic pay to a newly appointed employee or to an employee who must relocate to fill a position that would otherwise be difficult to fill. In return, the employee must sign a service contract with the agency.

If an agency is experiencing difficulty recruiting women for a certain type of job, the agency can also ask OPM to authorize higher special rates of pay for those positions.

In addition, agencies may assign jobs with varying work schedules such as part time, intermittent and seasonal to attract women who prefer to work less than full time.

The guide also notes that agencies can make continuing payments of up to 25 percent of basic pay as retention allowances to women who would otherwise leave the government. To be eligible for such bonuses, an employee must have unusually high or unique qualifications.

Agencies can also pay for training and education to retain employees in job categories where workers are in short supply. Agencies then may require service agreements to protect their investment.

Another option available to managers is granting quality step increases to top-performing employees. Such raises can be given to workers who have received the highest rating available in an agency's performance appraisal program. Employees can also be given lump-sum cash awards in recognition of accomplishments that "contribute to the efficiency or economy of government operations," OPM says.

The guide suggests that agencies tout family-friendly workplace policies like leave-sharing programs, paid leave for family care, telecommuting and scheduling flexibilities.

Women also need opportunities to develop credentials, organizational knowledge and management and executive competencies, the guide notes. OPM suggests that agencies provide high-potential women with significant, high-visibility assignments. Women should also have the opportunity to participate in mentoring activities, OPM says.

The complete guide can be found on OPM's Web site.